10 tips for a stressless move

Moving into a new space is known to be one of the most stressful experiences in life. While I never thought about it in such a dramatic way, I have to admit that packing your entire life and moving into a brand new space isn’t exactly a relaxing process.

Since we moved into our new house recently, I’ve gathered all my best tips and made a list of 10 tips for a (nearly) stressless move.

Get a lot of boxes

You own more than you think, it’s a fact. I remember that when I moved from my small studio in Paris into our first apartment in Brussels, I thought that I could move nearly everything with just a car. Turns out that we needed a van and that we filled it up almost entirely. This time, I originally thought that we would have enough with 30 boxes and a few suitcases but we actually used way more than that. Of course, things like clothes, kitchen stuff & beauty products take quite a lot of space but we often tend to forget about books, sports equipment and random souvenirs. So try to think about how many boxes you’ll need and add about 25% more to that.

Start early on

I left our packing until last minute (as you would have seen in this vlog) and I honestly started regretting it very quickly. I was completely stressed out and ended up packing things the day that we moved. While it’s not pleasant to live between cardboard boxes & packed bags, it’s a lot less stressful than running around like a maniac and throwing random things in boxes as quickly as you can. Take your time and start by packing things that you won’t really need any time soon. Make a goal to pack a few boxes everyday and you should be done in no time!

Don’t leave anything till last minute

We decided to move on a Friday and I only started packing on Tuesday morning of the same week. That means that on the actual moving day, we ended up losing so much valuable time packing what was left. I also left some things until the very last minute (like building clothes racks for my future closet or buying a proper desk) while I could have easily done them a few weeks before…

Pack a suitcase

If you keep one tip from this list, it should be this one. There’s nothing worse than arriving in your new place only to spend hours digging into your boxes to find your toothpaste or your favorite skinny jeans. So pack a suitcase just like you would do if you were going away for a week or so. Throw all your most worn items, your favorite beauty products, your planner, your gadgets and all your other essentials in it. Trust me, you’ll be happy you did it!

Plan a food delivery

When we moved into our new place, we lived on take away food for nearly 3 weeks. We didn’t have time to go grocery shopping and we didn’t think about ordering online. So be savvy, and place a food order a few days before the big move and schedule it to be delivered the day after your move. Don’t go overboard with your order beacuse trust me, chances are that you’ll be super tired and won’t have the motivation to cook a super complicated meal. Go for basics that are healthy yet easy to make: fresh greens, whole wheat pasta, Greek yogurt, …

Label your boxes clearly

Labeling your boxes properly is the key to spend less time digging in them to find what you are looking for. I personally used these Post it labels that are fully adhesive and used a color coding system as well (pink was for upstairs, green for downstairs). Write the room that it goes in with a big Sharpie pen and underneath write what’s inside. Be as descriptive as you can as well (write down what it contains, like high heels, sweaters or delicate dresses).

Don’t refuse help

As much as I take pride in doing things on my own, never say no when someone offers you a hand. I was so happy to see all my 4 best friends turn up on moving day and I couldn’t have done it without them. Get each of them a precise task (carrying boxes, filling up the van) & don’t forget to reward them with a nice treat afterwards!

Unpack everything once you’ve arrived

Well, maybe not as soon as you arrived but don’t leave your boxes hanging around for weeks. I know it’s tempting to leave everything as it is but trust me, if you don’t do it quickly, you’ll never do it. Setup small weekly goals to help you tackle everything.

Make lists

I am a firm believer in lists and I make them for about anything: work, grocery shopping, home improvement,… When you’re moving, chances are that your mind will be running wild with thoughts and things to do. So try to make a list of everything that you want to do. Think about moving your internet & electrical contracts, answering important emails, running certain errands… Write it all down!

Think ahead

Finally, plan ahead to avoid any drama. Think about your new contracts (phone, water, electricity), inform your contacts about your new address and schedule any furniture delivery early on. This way, when moving day comes, you’ll only have to worry about moving your stuff from point A to point B.